The air in Kochi was thick with the scent of the sea, a constant reminder of the city's deep connection with the waters. Prakhar stood at the edge of his school's courtyard, looking up at the sky, where the monsoon clouds were beginning to gather. Today was different. It was the last time he would stand here as a student.
His 10th board exams were over, and life as he knew it was about to change.
"Prakhar, we're moving," his father had announced just a few days ago. The Indian Navy had transferred him to New Navy Nagar, Mumbai—one of the most secure naval bases in the country. A place Prakhar had never seen, never even thought about.
At first, it didn't seem real. But now, as he stood in his empty classroom, running his fingers over the wooden desk where he had spent countless hours, the weight of the situation hit him. He was leaving behind everything—his friends, his school, his city.
And her.
Sweta Verma.
They had been classmates since 8th grade in Kochi. Back then, they were just friends in a casual sense. He never thought much about it. But when the COVID-19 lockdown hit, everything changed.
Separated from the outside world, Prakhar had spent months thinking—about life, the future, and… her. Somewhere along the way, he realized how much he liked her.
But it was too late now. Because in two days, he was leaving.
---
A New City, A New Life
June 6, 2022
The city of Mumbai was nothing like Kochi. This place never slept—loud streets, crowded stations, and never-ending honking. But inside New Navy Nagar, things were different. It was secure, quiet, and strictly controlled by the Navy.
Their new home was smaller than their last one. His mother, a housewife, was already busy unpacking. His elder sister, three years older than him, didn't seem to care about the move.
Prakhar, on the other hand, felt lost. Everything was unfamiliar. For the first time, he felt like a stranger in his own life.
And then came the next blow.
"You're joining tuition. Physics and Maths. Starts in two days."
Prakhar groaned. He had hoped for a few weeks of freedom, but there was no arguing with his father.
---
An Unexpected Reunion
Two days later, Prakhar found himself standing outside a small tuition center near Colaba, staring at the faded signboard. The air smelled of sea salt and petrol as bikes zoomed past. He let out a sigh and stepped inside.
The classroom was packed. Around fifteen students sat on wooden benches, chatting loudly.
He scanned the room, looking for an empty seat.
And then he saw her.
Sweta Verma.
For a second, his mind went blank.
Was he imagining things?
But no—she was right there, sitting near the window, her long black hair tied back, her light complexion glowing under the sunlight. She hadn't changed much since 8th grade. If anything, she looked… more confident.
What was she doing here?
As if sensing his gaze, she looked up. Their eyes met.
And then, just like that, she looked away.
No smile. No recognition. Nothing.
Prakhar felt a strange knot in his stomach. Did she not remember him? Or was she pretending not to?
"Hey, new guy! Sit here," a voice called out.
Prakhar turned to see a boy about his age, waving at him. He had a casual grin on his face, his hair slightly messy.
"I'm Rohan, by the way," he introduced himself as Prakhar took the seat next to him.
Prakhar forced a small smile. "Prakhar."
"First day?"
"Yeah."
"Same, man. Don't worry, these teachers won't kill us. Just half-kill us."
Prakhar chuckled. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.
But his mind kept drifting back to Sweta.
Why did she ignore him?
---
A Spark of Jealousy
As days passed, Prakhar slowly settled into his new routine. School, tuition, home. Repeat.
But something kept bothering him.
Sweta.
She was friendly to others but distant towards him. It wasn't outright coldness, but there was a wall between them, an invisible barrier that hadn't been there before.
And then, one day, it happened.
He arrived at tuition a little earlier than usual. As he walked in, he saw Sweta laughing at something Rohan had said. Her smile was genuine, her laughter effortless.
A strange twist of irritation settled in Prakhar's chest.
He had known her for years. But in just a few weeks, Rohan had somehow managed to be closer to her than he ever was.
Why did that bother him?
Maybe it shouldn't. Maybe he was just being stupid.
But he couldn't deny it anymore.
He was jealous.
---
The Proposal – A Risk Worth Taking
August 15, 2022 – Independence Day
That night, as fireworks lit up the Mumbai sky, Prakhar sat alone in his room, staring at his phone. His hands hovered over the keyboard, heart pounding.
Should he do it?
It was stupid. It was reckless. But if he didn't say it now, he never would.
And so, before he could change his mind, he typed out a message.
In their KV 2 Colaba class group chat, he sent a simple line.
"Sweta, I like you."
For a few seconds, nothing happened.
Then the group exploded.
"LOL what?!"
"Damn, Prakhar, straight to the point."
"Oof, awkward."
And finally, her reply.
"I'm sorry, Prakhar. I don't feel the same way."
It felt like the world had just collapsed around him.
For minutes, he just sat there, staring at the screen, unable to process what had happened.
Rejected.
Just like that.
Maybe he should have expected it. Maybe he was an idiot for thinking it would go any other way.
But one thing was clear.
Nothing would ever be the same again.